New data released this month places Texas ahead of every other state in completed home foreclosures, with filings climbing across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The mid-year foreclosure report from ATTOM, published on July 16, 2026, counted 227,548 properties nationwide with foreclosure filings in the first six months of the year, a 21 percent increase from 2025. Completed foreclosures rose even faster: lenders repossessed 27,983 properties nationally, up 33 percent, and Texas accounted for more than any other state, with 3,322 completed foreclosures.
Bankruptcy filings have also climbed, reaching 591,850 for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Chapter 13 filings, which are often used to save a home, rose 8 percent in the first quarter. These numbers underscore the financial strain many Texas homeowners are facing, and the urgency of understanding their options before it's too late.
Texas uses a nonjudicial foreclosure process governed by Chapter 51 of the Texas Property Code. A servicer must give a homestead owner 20 days to cure the default, then provide 21 days' notice before the sale, which is held on the first Tuesday of the month at the county courthouse. This means a homeowner can go from notice to sale in roughly six weeks. No lawsuit is filed, and no judge reviews the case. This streamlined process can catch many homeowners off guard, as they may assume they have more time than they actually do.
The automatic stay takes effect the moment a bankruptcy case is filed and can immediately stop a foreclosure sale, even one scheduled for the following Tuesday. Chapter 13 bankruptcy then allows a homeowner to repay past-due amounts over three to five years. Texas's homestead exemption carries no limit on value, so qualifying homeowners generally keep their homes. This makes bankruptcy a powerful tool for those facing foreclosure, but timing is critical.
Marcus Leinart, founder of Leinart Law Firm and a Dallas bankruptcy lawyer with more than 20 years of experience, sees the consequences of delayed action daily. "People call us on a Monday about a sale scheduled for the next morning, and sometimes we can still help them," he said. "But the options are much better six weeks earlier. What homeowners in Texas often don't realize is how little has to happen before a house is sold. There's no courtroom, no hearing, no judge. A filing stops the sale immediately, and Chapter 13 gives a family a structured way to catch up while staying in the home."
The firm, which has been serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 2005, has filed thousands of bankruptcy cases. Leinart Law Firm's team guides clients through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, creditor negotiations, and the court process, helping them protect as much of their property as Texas law allows. The firm is currently accepting new clients from its offices in Dallas and Fort Worth, and residents facing foreclosure can schedule a consultation to understand their options.
